West Sussex · London and the South East
Hickstead Flat Roof Survey
We carry out flat roof surveys in Hickstead and the rest of West Sussex. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Splits and cracks in the covering
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
Flat roof survey in Hickstead: what you get
A flat roof does not shed water the way a pitched roof does. Because rain sits on it for longer, a small split, an open seam or a blocked outlet matters more. The surface, the falls, the upstands and the trims are all looked at closely, and we look for signs that water has reached the deck. The aim is to find problems before they show up as a stain on a ceiling. If you are worried about dips that suggest the deck is deflecting and water getting in at rooflights, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Some older homes in villages like Hickstead are listed or in a conservation area, and that can affect how an extension roof or dormer is re-covered. Check with the council before planning any change of material. Knowing the roof’s condition is the starting point. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent.
If any part of the flat roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Where
- Hickstead (RH17, BN6)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Flat roof surveys in Hickstead: local notes
The wider area around Hickstead has a long history of building, with Ockenden Manor about 3.4 miles north-east. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere.
If you let a flat or house near Burgess Hill station, a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak. Take an older house close to The Parish Church of St Peter: the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof.
Hickstead is about 3 miles west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. We provide flat roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Hickstead and the surrounding area. Our West Sussex coverage includes Hickstead and the places around it. Brighton is in our area too.
Every address in RH17 and BN6 is covered for flat roof surveys. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include Goddards Green (1 mile east), Sayers Common (1 mile south), Abbotsford (2 miles east), Ansty (2 miles north-east) and Hurstpierpoint (2 miles south). Further out, we also cover Crawley (10 miles north), Horsham (9 miles north-west), Worthing (13 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (5 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (3 miles east) and East Grinstead (14 miles north-east).
Near you in Hickstead
We work in homes and buildings around St Paul's Catholic College. The closest station to Hickstead is Burgess Hill station, roughly 3.1 miles east. Well-known places in the area include The Dene Hospital (1.3 miles east) and Clayton Castle (4.6 miles south-east). For a walk, there is Wolstonbury Hill and Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve.
Nearby places to Hickstead
Other services in Hickstead
The survey, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes about one to two hours on an ordinary house, and longer for a large or complex roof. You are welcome to ask questions while we are there. Somewhere as small as Hickstead, access is often the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- You tell us about the roof, its covering if you know it, and any leaks.
- We check the roof from wherever it can safely be seen.
- Every part of the roof we can see is checked: covering, falls, upstands, outlets, trims and rooflights.
- We check the rooms or spaces under the roof for staining where we can reach them.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects we found and what we recommend.
Before we arrive
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Arrange a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Read more
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Do you need a flat roof survey in Hickstead?
Flat roofs often get walked on for other jobs: to clean windows, fit aerials or air conditioning units, or reach a gutter. A covering that wasn’t designed for foot traffic can crack or puncture. New brackets and fixings through the roof are another common source of leaks.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
- Water getting in at rooflights
- Upstands pulling away from walls
- Pools of water lying on the roof
If you look after a building such as Twineham CofE Primary School, ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season.
What to check before booking
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- What the survey won’t cover
- Are they insured for the work?
Leave it or get it looked at?
A survey can show whether a whole new roof is needed or whether the problems are in a few places. At times the trouble is a handful of failed details, and at times the whole covering is worn. The report sets out what we found, so you can make that decision with a roofer. In a place like Hickstead, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. It’s worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, inc. VAT, and we’ll tell you which fits.
Why us?
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Photos and a written report every time
Hickstead questions
Do you cover Hickstead?
Yes, Hickstead is within the area we cover. We cover the whole of London and South East England. You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and a few details.
Is my home in Hickstead listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Can you survey a flat roof on an office or unit?
Yes. Offices, units, shops and blocks of flats are all part of our work. Larger commercial roofs are quoted for their size and access, so ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
How soon will I get the report?
Report times are set by the package. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. Mention any deadline as you book.
How experienced are you?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, with 98% customer satisfaction.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We’re covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
For landlords and managing agents
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, putting the urgent items at the top.
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Let us know about it when booking and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
What this survey can’t tell you
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Hidden layers beneath the covering
- Areas we cannot see or reach safely, including fragile rooflights and sheeting
- Testing older roof sheets for asbestos
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll suggest the right survey before you book. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Hickstead
- GRP fibreglass
- Upstands and outlets
- Single-ply membranes
- Felt flat roofs
- Mastic asphalt
- EPDM rubber